The Blue Horse Restaurant, on Raritan Avenue, is CAM Hospitality’s newest endeavor as it hasn’t even been a year since they cut the blue ribbon, but Joe Amore, part owner, said that it has already become an important part of the Highland Park restaurant scene.
It was even recently named the “Best Restaurant for 2019” by the Edison Chamber of Commerce during its 22nd Taste of Middlesex event.
Joe has been in the restaurant business since he was 14. He got his first job as a dishwasher at a local pizzeria and fell in love with the service industry.Joe’s love for food and entertainment led him to pursue a career in hospitality management, which eventually led him to form CAM Hospitality Group with his two partners, Dan Caputo and Jeff McNamara.
CAM Hospitality Group currently owns three establishments: the Pines Manor in Edison, the famous Skylark Diner in Edison and, of course, the Blue Horse Restaurant in Highland Park.
“We’re so proud of how well the Blue Horse has been doing and we thank the community and the MCRCC for being so supportive of us,” said Joe. “At the Blue Horse, we provide good food at a good value and consistently great service.”
Joe explained that he and his two partners created the Blue Horse for one purpose: to create a “one-stop-shop for food and beverage needs” in Highland Park.
Along with a menu that offers everything from vegan to bacon, the Blue Horse features bar bingo on Tuesday nights, live local entertainment Wednesday through Saturday, a delicious Sunday brunch and offers a private banquet space for events such as baby showers and graduation parties.
The Blue Horse, along with CAM Hospitality’s other two establishments, also offers off-site catering to fulfill all of your food and beverage needs. They offer an array of gluten-free and vegetarian dishes as well as vegan options.
“Before we opened, we talked with the neighborhood about what they wanted and that’s how we crafted such a diverse menu,” said Joe. “We honestly have something for everyone here and we’re always open to new ideas from customers.”
“You could eat around the world in Highland Park with its diverse restaurants and we’re happy to add something special to the restaurant district here,” Joe added.
Joe and his team pride themselves on stocking beer from local breweries and making seasonal changes to their menu to reflect the local produce available. They are also very involved in the community by sponsoring local blood drives and providing food for the Rutgers Dance Marathon which benefits the Embrace Kids Foundation.
Joe has been a member of the Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce for more than 10 years and even sat on the board for the Convention and Visitors Bureau years ago. He said that after all these years, he and his company still benefit from their chamber membership.
“Being a part of the chamber has helped our company as a whole tremendously from the networking opportunities it offers to the promotional aspect, we’re proud to be an active member,” he said.
Make sure to stop in to see a live band and enjoy a signature “Blue Horse Special” cocktail or try the famous roast brisket sandwich. Don’t forget to say hi to Joe if you see him.
The Blue Horse is open for lunch and dinner, from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday.
The restaurant also offers online ordering and delivery through its website. For more information, click here.
